Type-writing machine.



H. H. STEELE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY a1, 1907.

1,026,372. Patented May 14, 1912.

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WITNESSES: INVENTEIF?= H. H. STEELE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1907.

Patented May 14, 1912.

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HISATTEIRNEY UNITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

HERBERT H. STEELE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONARCH TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14. I 91.73.

Application filed May 31, 1907. x Serial No. 376,509.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, I-Innnnnr II. STEELE, citizen of the United States, and resident 'of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .l.ype- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the type actions of writing machines.

, One object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means for simultaneously adjusting the tension of all of the restoring springs of the type actions.

A further object of my invention is to simultaneously change at will the touch on all the keys of the type actions without affecting the acceleration of the type bars.

To thc above and other ends, which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists of the features of construction, arrange ments of parts and combinations of devices set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical front to rear central sectional View of one form of. typcwriting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View on a larger scale than Fig. 1 of the adjustable frame for the restoring springs, with some of the associated parts.

" 3' I have shown my invention applied to a Monarch type-writing machine, 'but it Should be understood that the invention is applicable to other styles of typewriting .machines.

The frame of the machine comprises a base 1 having a cover plate 2 on the rear extension thereof, corner posts 3 and. a top plate 4. A platen 5, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, is mounted to turn in bearings in a carriage (not shown) which travels from" side to side of the machine over the top plate in the usual manner. Levers 6 having finger keys 7 are each formed with a curved fulcrum tread 8 on its upper edge at the rear end-portion for cooperation with a fixed fulcrum plate 9 secured by screws 9 to depending bosses 10 on the cover plate 2. Each key lever has an upright sub-lever 11 pivoted thereto at 12 and the lower end portion of each sublever is slotted at 13 for coo 'ieration with a fixed fulcrum rod 14: which extends beneath the system of key levers and is secured to the base of the machine. To the upper end of each sub-lever is pivoted at 15 a forwardly extending link 16, pivoted at 17 to a type bar 18. The type bars are segmentally arranged and are adapted to strike upwardly and rearwardly against the front face of the platen 5. The type bars are pivoted at 19 to hangers 20 secured to a type bar segment 21. Restoring springs 22 are each connected at one end to a type bar and at'the opposite end to a plate 23-held in place by a screw 24: which secures the associated hanger in position. Each of the key levers carries a strap 25 which is pivoted at its lower end at 26 and formed with a loop or hook 27 at its upper end for cooperation with the hoolclike end 28 of a restoring spring 29. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it Will be seen that two adjacent restoring springs are made of a single piece of wire bent double and formed with a loop 30. The parallel arms or branches 2!) each constitutes a restoring spring. The loop of each pair of springs is bent downward at right angles to the arms 2.) as indicated at 31, so that said looped part may straddle and catChupOIl a tooth 32, formed on the rear edge of a toothed bar 33 and so that the parallel arms 29 of each spring will rest upon the top of said bar. A cover plate 34 (broken away in Fig. 2) is detachably secured to the bar 33 by screws 35, and is practically co-extensivc with the length of said bar. This plate has a flange 36 at right angles to the body portion The flange 36 of the cover plate bears against the free ends of the teeth 32 to prevent any of the springs from accidentally unhooking from the teeth 39. The bar 3.: constitutes a part of an open rectangular frame 37 which comprises additionally side or end bars 38 and a rear cross bar 39. In the present instance the rear cross bar and the end bars 38 are formed of one piece of sheet metal and the forward ends of the end bars are formed with inwardly bent cars 40 to which the front cross bar 33 is riveted i at 41. The front lea r33 is provided with trunnion-like pivots 42 which are seated in bearings in brackets 43, secured by screws 4.4 to the cover plate 2 of the base. An upwardly and rearwardly projecting car 45 is formed on the rear cross bar and is perforated at 46 for the reception of the lower end of a thumb screw 47, provided with a knurled head 48. This screw is fitted in a threaded opening in the cover plate 2 about centrally of themachine and at the rear end thereof, where it is readily accessible to the operator.

a A guide comb or reed 49 is carried by brackets 50, which are secured by screws 51 to the fulcrum plate ,9. The brackets 50 have depending lugs 52 which are perforated to receive the ends of a rod 53 and hold it in place. This rod 53 is seated in slots or notches 54 formed in the key levers G, sov as to prevent longitudinal movement of the key levers, and said key levers are also guided laterally by the comb 49.

It will be seen that the restoring springs 29 extend forward from the adjustable frame 37 and forward of or beyond the pivotal center thereof, and that the thumb screw '17 cooperates with a rearwardly extended portion of the adjustable frame which is back of the pivots 42. The screw therefore resists the pressure of the restoring springs which hold up the key levers and maintain their curved treads in cont-act with the fixed fulcrum plate 9 and their forward ends against a stop or pad It will also be seen that the construction is such.

that the guide comb 49 is arranged within.

the open adjustable frame although it is in dependent thereof; that the rear ends of the key levers project through said frame so that their curved creeping treads may cooperate with the fulcrum plate 9 and with the comb; and that the front cross bar 33 of the frame lies above the key levers, while the rear cross bar 39 lies below the key le- \e'rs. It will also be understood that an adjustment of the thumb screw 4748 affords a swinging movement of the adjustable frame on itstrunnion-like pivots 42 so to simultaneously vary the tension of all of the restoring springslQt) to change or regulate the touch of all of the key-actions or type bar actions. This variation of the touch is effected without affecting the acceleration of the type bars, which is pro:

duced by the rolling action of the curved treads 8 of the key levers on the fixed fulcrum plate 9, which action effects a variation in the leverage of the key levers;

I preferably perforate the bar 33 at 56 and also perforate the fulcrum plate at 57' to afi'ord a free passageway for the usual link (not shown) that actuates the escapement mcheu'lism. The fulcrum plate is also 'sion of all of said springs.

a]j c1.'tl.u'cd at the rear QClf'f". thereof, as indirated at 58, for the free passage of the screw 47.

It will be seen that the adjustable means for varying the resistance is constructed and arranged with special referenceto type actions in which key operated levers have variable fulcra and the printing movements of the type bars are accelerated. The parts (t act in such a manner that the efficiency of the varying leverage feature is in no manner affected by the adjustment of the tension of the restoring springs.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. The type action may be varied 30 and the springs may be single instead of duplex. i

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewrltm'g machine, the combi- 35 nation of a series 0f type bars, a series of I creeping key levers therefor havinga constant amount of creep, a series of restoring springs operatively connected to said key levers, a pivoted frame to one side of which saidsprings are connected, and a screw carried by a fixed'part of the machine and cooperative with the opposite side of said pivoted frame to simultaneously adjust the ten- 2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers,a pivoted frame, a series of for- \vardly projecting restoring springs secured to said pivoted frame forward of. its pivots-1'00 means for connecting the restoring springs to the key levers, and adjustable means carried by a fixed part of the machine and cooperative with said frame in the rear of the pivot thereof to resist the pressure of I the springs and also to vary the tension of all of said-springs simultaneously.

3. In a. typewriting machine, the combination of a series of typebars, a series of key levers, a pivoted frame having a portion that extends above and across the system of key levers and a portion, that extends rearwardly beyond the rear ends of said key levers, a series of forwardly projecting re-.

storing springs secured to that portion of said. pivoted frame which extendsabove and across the system of key levers, means for connecting the restoring springs to' the key levers, and adjustable means cooperative v with said frame at that portion thereof which extends rearwardly beyond the rear: ends of the key levers to resist the pressuref of the springs and also to vary the tension" of all ofsaid springs simultaneously.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers, a frame comprlslng end bars pivoted to the frame of the machine, a front cross bar and a rear Cross bar, restoring springs connected to said front Cross bar and to the series of key levers, and means cooperative with the rear cross bar to control the position of the frame around its pivot and also to adjust the tension of all of said springs simultaneously.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers, a pivoted frame within which the rear ends of the key lovers are arranged, said frame comprising end bars outside the system of key levers, a front cross bar above the key levers and a rear cross bar below the system of key levers, restoring springs connected to said front cross bar and to the seriesof key levers, and means cooperative with the rear cross bar to control the position of the frame around its pivot and to adjust the tension of all of said restoring springs. v

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, aseries of key levers, a pivoted frame comprising end bars, and front and rear cross bars, restoring springs connected to said front cross bar and to the series of key levers, and a thumb screw carried by a fixed part of the machine and cooperative with said rear cross bar or a part carried thereby to adjust said frame and simultaneously adjust the tension of all of said restoring springs.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers therefor, a rectangular pivoted frame into which the key levers-project, a guide comb independent of said frame but contained therein and cooperative with said key levers to guide them, restoring springs connected with said key levers and with said frame, and means for adjustin, said frame.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers therefor, a rectangular pivoted frame into which the key levers project, a guide comb independent of said frame but con tained therein and coiiperative with said key lovers to guide them, restoring springs connected with said key levers and with said frame and projecting from the frame at one side of the pivotal center thereof, and a thumb screw carried by a fixed portion of the machine and cooperative with said pivoted frame at the opposite side of the pivotal center thereof.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers each having a curved fulcrum tread, a fulcrum plate against which said treads bear and on which they roll, an open adjustable frame through which the key leversproject to contact with the fulcrum plate, and re storing springs connected to said adjustable frame and to said key levers.

10. In a typowriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers each having a curved fulcrum tread, a fulcrum plate against which said treads bear and on which they roll, an open pivoted f ame through which the key levers project to contact with said fulcrum plate, restoring springs carried by said frame at one side of the pivotal center thereof and connected with said key levers, and adjustable means carried by a fixed part of the machine and cooperative with said frame at the opposite side of the pivotal center thereof to simultancously ad ust the tension of all of said springs.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers each having a curved fulcrum tread, a fulcrum plate against which said treads bear and on which they roll, an open pivoted frame through which the key levers project to contact with said fulcrum plate, a reed disconnected from but contained within said frame for guiding the key lovers in their movements, restoring springs carried by said frame at one side of the pivotal center thereof and connected with said key levers, and adjustable means carried by a fixed part of the machine and cooperative with said frame at the opposite side of the pivotal center thereof to simultaneously adjust the tension of all of said springs.

12., In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers each having a slot therein and a curved fulcrum tread, a fulcrum plate against which said treads hear, an open pivoted frame through which the key levers project to contact with said fulcrum plate, a reed disconnected from but contained within said frame for guiding the kcy lovers in their movements, :1 fixed rod or bar contained within the frame but independent thereof and which is seated in said slots in the key levers, restoring springs carried by said frame at one side of the pivotal center thereof and connected with said key levers, and adjustable means carried by a fixed part of the machine and cooperative with said frame at the opposite side of the pivotal center thereof to simultaneously adjust the tension of all of said springs.

1.3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a series of type bars, a series of key levers each having a curved fulcrumtread on the upper side thereof, a fulcrum plate arranged a bovc the key levers and against which said treads hear, an open pivoted frame through which the keylevcrs project to enable the treads to contact with said fulcrum plate, restoring springs carried by said frameabove the key levers and at one side of the pivotal center of the frame and connected with said key levers so as to have an upward pull thereon end means carried by 5 fixed part of the machine and coiiperative with said frame at the opposite side of the pivotal center thereof'to simultaneously adjust the tenlevers, a fulcrum plate on which said-key levers have a rolling action, a pivoted frame,

restoring springs which are connected with said'pivoted frame and with said key levers and which maintain the key levers in contact with their fulcrum plate, and a thumb screw which cotiperates with said pivoted frame to adjust said springs. I Signed at Syracuse, in the countg. of Onondaga, and State of New York,

HERBERT H. STEELE.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MARVEL, W. G. HAY. 

